What do you think of when you hear the term ‘Coffee Snob’?  If you don’t know what a coffee snob is, then you probably think the definition of coffee snob is something negative. In reality, being a coffee snob means

that you are properly educated on the finer points of coffee; the different roasts, varietals, and brewing methods that impact the final product.  To outsiders, you appear to be a snob, but only because you cannot compromise your coffee morals by subjecting yourself to pre-ground, stale, burnt, or otherwise subpar coffee.  You cringe when you hear the word “eXpresso”, laugh when hear someone order a “triple-triple”, and cry when you see a ‘macchiato’ made with a gallon of caramel syrup!

CoffeeNate = Coffee Snob

Being a coffee snob is not about being a ‘snob’ at all, it’s about being educated, passionate, and informed about our beloved bean.  So don’t be ashamed to be a Cofee Snob, because that’s what I am, and I’m proud of it! I am CoffeeNate and a coffee snob!

I have awesome news about this month’s FREE coffee contest!  This month, my friend Johnny aka @BaristaOnDutY aka BODY Coffee is giving away some of his artisan pan roasted beans to 3 lucky CoffeeNate viewers!

BaristaOnDutY is a pan roasting magician!

So, with even better odds it’s even more reason to get entered early and often! I will be drawing and announcing a winner on April 1st, and it won’t be an April Fools joke.

Here’s how you can get the maximum number of entries…
• Leave a contributing comment on ANY post at CoffeeNate.com! The comment must contribute to the discussed topic to qualify.
• Click the ‘TWEET’ button at the top or bottom of any post at CoffeeNate.com
• ReTweet any of my tweets that contain contest information, or a link to CoffeeNate.com
• Join the CoffeeNate.com page on facebook
• Refer a friend to CoffeeNate.com and have them send me a message saying “___ sent me.”
• Ask any coffee question

How do you like the new video format?  I’m going with all videos being 5 minutes or less!  It’s important to me to get you some great information, but I want to give it quickly.  Please excuse the sounds of my little dudes running around during the filming.  I can’t keep them locked in the closet forever I suppose   (that was a joke)  Thanks for stopping by, and please help me pay the bills by visiting my sponsors.  Take care!

“Pet Peeves”…we all have them, it’s that certain something that drives you up a friggin’ wall every time you encounter it.  The funny thing is that it can easily be something that %99 of people would not pick up on, and I think that makes it even worse!  Coffee pet peeves, coffee gripes, call it what you will, but what follows is a list of the top 10 annoyances related to COFFEE. Be sure to…..

TOP 10 COFFEE PET PEEVES

Well excuuuuuuse me!

1.  Excuuuuuuse me!

The #1 pet peeve is not really coffee related at all!  It comes down to being human, and feeling like you are valued.  Whether it was a barista or a consumer, the number one issue was relationship.  Its about service and about treating the server as a human being.  Its about taking time to explain to a new coffee lover what the drinks are made of, and its about respect.

2.  Hello….McFly?

This peeve is about ‘duuuuh?’  Its about incompetence all around.  Whether it’s an unskilled barista that doesn’t know the difference between a latte and a cappuccino or what about the ‘barista’ that calls espresso “EXpresso”, or an ignorant customer that is looking for the gas station type of ‘kappachino’ machine, there is a lot of dumb out there!  I once visited a local cafe that stored their beans in a 5lb open bag.  When I asked how long ago that bag was opened, the clerk said “oh just recently…like last weekend”  As if I wasn’t blown away by her lack of knowledge already she quickly followed it up with “You know, they pretty much stay fresh forever…once they’re roasted”  Are you kidding me?

3.  Is that tea?

This one came up quite a bit as well, coffee so weak that you could not tell that it was coffee by looking at it.  I was at the barber once (not for me for my son) and the barber offered me some free coffee.  I looked at the pot and almost laughed out loud.  I saw what appeared to be apple juice in the carafe, and right next to it, and opened can of ‘coffee’.  I politely declined.

Give it 2 us at the right temp, and we'll throw it down!

4.  Goldilocks Syndrome

Is it really that hard to get coffee the right temperature?  especially for a professional shop?  C’mon folks, coffee is properly brewed at between 190 and 205 degrees…anything less and you aren’t extracting all of the flavor, and any hotter would scald the coffee and create a bitter/burnt taste.

I *NEED* a latté!

5.  Financing available?

$5.75 for a coffee drink…really?  This is getting ridiculous.  I can make the same drink at home for less than $.50…only mine taste better!  Stop ripping us off and we’ll start spending more!  No matter what you think, you should not charge more for an Americano than what you charge for an espresso…period!  Not when there is a %500 mark up on a shot of espresso.  Don’t cry about the lid cost…keep your lid!

6.  Great Expectations

Here’s another one that is on both sides of the counter.  Guess what people, if you order your coffee from the same place that sells gummy bears and motor oil, chances are you are not going to get a premium cup of coffee.  Don’t expect the local gas station to be roasting their own beans and brewing your joe up in a clover!  And Baristas, don’t expect every customer who walks into your shop to know as much as you.  Sure, they may think they do, but really…you are there to help educate them to make an informed order.  This will increase your sales and decrease the amount of waste from unwanted premium drinks.

"Here's your 'light' roast sir"

7. Charcoal Roast

Okay, can we get a universal definition of ‘medium’.  Personally, I would put it between ‘light’ and ‘dark’, but apparently this is way too difficult for some coffee roasters out there.  Newsflash, if your beans are dark and shiny…they aren’t ‘MEDIUM’…that is what we call “CHARCOAL”.  I would hate to see what these clowns call ‘Dark’.  So, if this is you, please entertain the thought of being more descriptive about what type of roast it is.

8.  Put a lid on it!

Take out cup lids.  Nothing is worse than going in for that first heavenly sip of coffee only to get the front of your white shirt douched with hot coffee!  I hate those lids that you can never seem to tell if they are on all of the way, and they always feel like they are falling off.

9.  Simmer down

Once a pot of coffee is brewed, either store it in a carafe or rinse it down the drain after 20 minutes or so.  Don’t let the coffee boil down and simmer on the element…yuck!  You’re going to cook your subpar coffee, then charge me?  That will be the last couple of dollars you ever see from me…or anyone I know!



10.  Live up to the hype!

No, that isn't a Chocolatey Payday!

You’ve seen all of these premium coffees, Kona, Jamaican Blue Mountain, and the much hearalded Kopi Luak.  Okay, I understand that this stuff is scarce and that is the major reason for it’s premium price of $50-$80 per pound, but damn…is there a coffee that is truly worth that crazy amount?  I drink a pound a week by myself, is it really worth me spending over $300/month?  I’ve tried Kona and JBM, but never the Kopi Luwak.  Have you heard about this stuff?  There is this Chinese cat called a Civet.  This little bastard loves eating coffee cherries, but their digestive system only removes the fruit, leaving the ‘beans’ in their stool.  That’s right, someone actually follows these little puppies around, bags up their turds, and then digs the beans out of their poop…and then turns around and charges you $70/lb!  I wouldn’t pay $1 for cat shit, I have a whole litter box filled with the stuff on any given day…nobody wants that!  Granted, Kona and JBM are very tasty coffees and I’d love to drink them regularly, but I don’t believe they are worthy of spending $50 per week.  There are other excellent coffees that are far more reasonable in price.

Honorable Mentions By YOU!

Kevin B.- Getting a mouthful of grinds.

Ashley A- burnt millk that is 3 inches of foam with tastless espresso and someone called it a cappuccino…

large bubble foam – i should have added to that – Can you tell I had a bad experience yesterday….

David G- when I pour too much sugar in my coffee. blah

Matt C - When I ask for room for cream and they give me like a half cup of coffee.

Al B - Biggest pet peeve? Restaurants that take advantage of the “free equipment” offered by a the food supply vendor, only to get locked into crap beans and coffee brewed weaker than tea. This is especially offensive if it’s a higher end restaurant with a reputation for quality and innovation.

Joya H- When you make/buy the perfect cup and are so anticipating it only to pour in cream gone-bad!

Alex - Robusta beans

Caroline D- when my husband decides to “save” money by buying folgers and then expecting me to like it. ew

Todd S- My coffee pet peeve is the over kill hype about how good KOPI LUWAK is when S.O. are great and S.O. BLENDS taste alot more satifying than wisker turd coffee..and people that ARGUE over what coffee is best!

Nashi Self Made- Not Sure Of The Ones U Already Have But This One Is Major For Me~ Going To Order A Cappuccino N Getting A Latte, N Then The Barista Ask How Is It! ? R U Kidding Me? Well 1st Off Get The Drink Right 1st.

Tina D- People who order like they know exactly what they’re ordering… but don’t have a clue. (Granted, I used to do this) But on the flip side, when the barista assumes you know nothing about gourmet coffee, and won’t notice if say, the foam for your cap doesn’t come out right and its really a latte.

Devon H.- When coffee shops have a policy to automatically use low-fat or reduced fat milk and do not ask you when you order what kind you’d like. I always have to make a point of telling them (mostly Starbucks) that I want whole milk (I do not recognize other “milks” as milk). I get really irritated if they tell me they’re out of it because they don’t keep enough stocked.

Jo-Anne P- I hate lukewarm coffee from coffeeshops….and I hate when people don’t wash their coffee pots!!

Jamie M- when you get a coffee through a drive thru and the don’t stir it. And when you go to a coffee shop and they have 15 different kinds of coffee, but they don’t explain the difference in the flavours.

From Twitter folks

nerdygrrl @CoffeeNate “expresso” I hate when folks say expresso!

Shananava @CoffeeNate don’t know if got yest.non sugar free specialty drinks in cofffeeshops.Gastric bypass patients,diabetics need coffee love 2.

geekbabe @CoffeeNate when they don’t put the lid securely on my coffee, I totally love coffee all over my work clothing.. NOT!

polandd @CoffeeNate When I advised that “steaming the milk to that temp will scald it, are you sure” being told to shut up & do my job
@CoffeeNate Folks who order the “no froth” cappucino, or say “can you make it taste like the gas station machine?”

@coffeemaverick @CoffeeNate 1) eXpresso instead of eSpresso 2) places that can’t make a real macchiato (thanks to Starbucks caramel macchiato) 3)Milk foaming that sounds like an airplane taking off 4) 7 second shots

jcolman @CoffeeNate Stale coffee (most store-bought coffee) is my pet peeve. Folks should always buy fresh from a roaster.

jtdachtler @CoffeeNate Old coffee beans and People that think coffee at $2 a pound is Grade A , burnt coffee, Flavor coffees that taste like Medicine!

MCJunkie @CoffeeNate pet peeve is oily tasting decafe, yuk.

Nankani @CoffeeNate Picking up my coffee and drinking to find Bro in law used it to spit his chewing tabacco in !!! ~GACK~

There were other great ones, but too many to mention all of them!  Thanks again to all who responded and got their coffee pet peeves off of their chests!

One of my favorite sites to purchase sustainable coffee is Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. They are easy to deal with and offer a huge variety of coffees to try. I like how they have details about where the coffee came from, right down to the farmer! They have a great coffee buying club that gets you a discount of $1 per bag and you don’t have to order a minimum amount, nor do you have to order at any frequency. Pay them a visit!

Entering our FREE coffee contest is easy!   This month it is being sponsored by Kohana Slow Roasted Coffee.  Check out their site, and also follow them on Twitter @KohanaCoffee Kohana offers great slow roasted coffees that are prepared in small batches to ensure quality and freshness!

USE CODE: CoffeeNateFan

Here’s how you can enter today!

• Leave a comment on any CoffeeNate.com post (1 entry per contributing comment)
• Become a fan of CoffeeNate.com on facebook or click “Become a Fan” in the toolbar at the bottom of the page.
• Click the “Tweet” button at the top left or bottom of any CoffeeNate.com post
• Follow me and ReTweet my tweets that contain contest info
• Sign up for our email updates at the top right of any page

In the next couple of days, I will draw a winner and they will be able to choose any coffee from Kohana Coffee’s website (does not include ultra premium %100 Kona coffee). Kohana will ship directly to you at absolutely no charge! Enjoy The contest is open to all North American residents, and Kohana ships to everywhere in North America!

If you enjoy what you see at CoffeeNate.com then please pay me back by visiting my sponsors! Every time a visitor from my site goes to a sponsor’s site, they know where the click came from. Show my sponsors that you appreciate their contribution to this site! Thank you and good luck!!

CONTEST ANNOUNCMENT…..

Watch out for an exciting announcement regarding the March contest….details will soon follow via Twitter, facebook, etc

Maybe you’ve seen them, maybe you haven’t…the tree frog, the half black / half white dude with baskets in his/her hand, or perhaps a flock of Smithsonian birds on your coffee labels?  What the heck do these coffee certification labels mean to us, the consumer?  Watch the vid and keep reading to find out!

USDA CERTIFIED ORGANIC COFFEE

To be certified ‘organic’ a product must be cultivated without the use of chemical pesticides, fertilizers, synthetic materials, and also must be not be genetically engineered.

As a side note, the vast majority of coffee farmers are not very educated.  This leads to the misuse of chemical pesticides and fertilizers.  Many farmers unknowingly pollute their community drinking water, killing the natural flora and fauna, while poisoning themselves.  In addition, most do not wear the required protective clothing either.  When you buy organic, you are supporting methods that promote better living conditions for the farmers, their communities, as well as the surrounding wildlife.

Fair Trade Certified

Fair Trade Certification ensures that the producers of the coffee receive a fair price for their coffee.  This program works with farmers to help them develop themselves as businessmen, inspiring them to work together with other farmers to not only provide for their families, but to make investments in their communities.  When a producer becomes Fair Trade Certified they are educated in sustainable growing techniques such as organic farming methods, and shade growing coffee.   Farmers that are certified are guaranteed a premium price for their coffee, and also receive additional premiums if they switch to sustainable growing methods.

Rainforest Alliance

Rainforest Alliance certification is directed towards preservation of natural eco-systems and helping coffee farms to produce their crops with very little or no impact on the natural surrounding habitat through reduction of waste, water usage, and improved efficiency.  They also work to improve the quality of life for the employees of the farm, ensuring fair wages,  decent living areas, and access to school, health care, and clean drinking water.

Smithsonian Bird Friendly

This certification, as you’ve probably already guessed, is focused on preserving the habitat of the indigenous bird populations of the tropical areas where coffee grows.  Much of the natural trees have been clear-cut, or nearly clear-cut, to provide more acreage for planting coffee trees.  This has also caused a greater need for pesticides to ward off the bugs that were not an issue with natural canopy shade growing methods.

In addition to the focus on shade growing techniques there is also the added benefit that all ‘Bird Friendly’ coffee is also certified organic.  There is also a bit of the Fair Trade aspect of a premium price for producers.

My overall favorite site to purchase sustainable coffee is Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.  They are easy to deal with and offer a huge variety of coffees to try.  I like how they have details about where the coffee came from, right down to the farmer!  They have a great coffee buying club that gets you a discount of $1 per bag and you don’t have to order a minimum amount, nor do you have to order at any frequency.  Pay them a visit!

Comparison Chart by SCAA.org

While none of the above programs are perfect, nor can they solve all of the injustices going on in the coffee growing regions of the world, but it is a start.  It helps us as consumers to educate ourselves on what is going on, and what we can do to at least contribute in a small way.  Check out the .pdf chart to the left, it was published by SCAA.org, and it is a great side by side comparison of various sustainable coffee certifications.  It also has contact info for each group as well.  Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions you may have on this topic.  Just leave a comment below, or if you are shy you can click ‘contact’ at the top of the page

Entering our FREE coffee contest is easy! This month it is being sponsored by Kohana Slow Roasted Coffee. Check out their site, and also follow them on Twitter @KohanaCoffee Kohana offers great slow roasted coffees that are prepared in small batches to ensure quality and freshness!

USE CODE: CoffeeNateFan

Here’s how you can enter today!

• Leave a comment on any CoffeeNate.com post (1 entry per contributing comment)
• Become a fan of CoffeeNate.com on facebook or click “Become a Fan” in the toolbar at the bottom of the page.
• Click the “Tweet” button at the top left or bottom of any CoffeeNate.com post
• Follow me and ReTweet my tweets that contain contest info
• Sign up for our email updates at the top right of any page

At the end of February, I will draw a winner and they will be able to choose any coffee from Kohana Coffee’s website (does not include ultra premium %100 Kona coffee). Kohana will ship directly to you at absolutely no charge! Enjoy The contest is open to all North American residents, and Kohana ships to everywhere in North America!

If you enjoy what you see at CoffeeNate.com then please pay me back by visiting my sponsors! Every time a visitor from my site goes to a sponsor’s site, they know where the click came from. Show my sponsors that you appreciate their contribution to this site! Thank you and good luck!!

Decaffeinated coffee, something that I rarely punish myself with, but there are those who are unfortunately subjected to this sub-par beverage.  Many people

Diagram from SwissWater.com showing their process

cannot properly process caffeine and it effects their heart rate negatively.  Admittedly, I haven’t tried very many decaf coffees, but those that I have tried have left me feeling unsatisfied and used.   In addition to the less than desirable flavor, most decaffeinated coffee is processed using harsh chemical solvents.  BUT, if you are one of the unfortunate ones who must endure the decaf version of coffee, take heart.  There is better decaf out there, but you have to search for it.  There is a mystic about the decaffeination of coffee.  Just how do they remove the caff from the bean?

The most popular method of decaffeinating coffee is a synthetic chemical process where the beans are steamed for 30 minutes to draw the caffeine to the surface of the green coffee bean.  Once this has occurred, the beans are washed with a chemical solvent of either Methyl Chloride or Ethyl Acetate.  MMmm delicious!  These two are used in paint strippers, nail polish remover and glue, not exactly appetizing.  After this process the beans are again steamed to ‘remove’ the residual solvent.  I’m not sure if they can guarantee that all of the chemical has been removed, and I don’t think I would tend to believe them if they did.

The healthiest method of decaffeinating coffee is called the Swiss Water Method.  This method involves no synthetic chemicals, and uses only fresh water.  You can check out the pdf (provided by SwissWater.com) to the right that explains the process in detail.  The Swiss Water method involves soaking the green coffee beans in water for ten hours.  The caffeine and the flavor solids from the beans are diffused into the water.  This initial batch of beans are discarded.  Then the caffeine is filtered from the remaining liquid, leaving behind the flavor component of the coffee.  A fresh batch of beans are soaked in this solution, and since the liquid is saturated with the coffee flavor solids, only the caffeine diffuses into the solution.  It’s quite simple, and ingenious!  There is only one place in the world that uses this method, and it is located in British Columbia, Canada.  Green coffee is shipped to them, treated with their patented process, and then distributed to roasters throughout the world.  A complete list of companies that use their service can be found at their website.

After doing some research, I’ve found a decaf coffee that has received very high scores for taste, and is treated with the Swiss Water Method.  You will find this coffee at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.  It is the National Wildlife Blend Decaf.  This blend is Fair Trade, certified organic, and certified by the National Wildlife Federation.  As an added benefit, this coffee sells for only $8.49 and you can get $1 off per bag by joining their Café Express program, where they ship coffee to you on YOUR schedule.  It’s like an auto ship program, but you have complete control and you can either stop all future shipments, or put them on indefinite hold.  I use this program and find that it saves me money, and I get to try new coffees at a discount when my pantry runs dry.

Here’s something I just discovered, the Coffee Beanery sells only Swiss Water Processed decaff for all of their decaffeinated coffees!  Buy today and get this great discount as well… Enjoy Free Shipping on All Orders with code: CBValentine

If you still have questions about anything that I’ve covered, let me know and I’ll gladly get some answers for you!  Just click “Ask CoffeeNate” above, or click ‘Contact’ at the top of any page

Entering our FREE coffee contest is easy! This month it is being sponsored by Kohana Slow Roasted Coffee. Check out their site, and also follow them on Twitter @KohanaCoffee Kohana offers great slow roasted coffees that are prepared in small batches to ensure quality and freshness!

USE CODE: CoffeeNateFan

Here’s how you can enter today!

• Leave a comment on any CoffeeNate.com post (1 entry per contributing comment)
• Become a fan of CoffeeNate.com on facebook or click “Become a Fan” in the toolbar at the bottom of the page.
• Click the “Tweet” button at the top left or bottom of any CoffeeNate.com post
• Follow me and ReTweet my tweets that contain contest info
• Sign up for our email updates at the top right of any page

At the end of February, I will draw a winner and they will be able to choose any coffee from Kohana Coffee’s website (does not include ultra premium %100 Kona coffee). Kohana will ship directly to you at absolutely no charge! Enjoy The contest is open to all North American residents, and Kohana ships to everywhere in North America!

If you enjoy what you see at CoffeeNate.com then please pay me back by visiting my sponsors! Every time a visitor from my site goes to a sponsor’s site, they know where the click came from. Show my sponsors that you appreciate their contribution to this site! Thank you and good luck!! 

Canada…known for it’s passion for hockey, strong beer, Celine Dion, home of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and %13 sales tax.  When Americans think of Canada,

it typically involves snow, mountains, and igloos.  I’ve lived in Canada for 12 years and I’ve yet to see a single igloo, but what I have noticed is that this country is absolutely bonkers for Tim Horton’s coffee.  I live in a town of 75,000 people, and there are 7 Timmy’s Donut Shoppes…and they are always busy.  There is seldom a time of day when there are fewer than 6 vehicles parked in the lot and 5 more in the drive thru!  So what is the hubbub about?  I had to see for myself.

Stealing a line from the Canadian National Anthem

At first glance when you enter a Tim Horton’s restaurant, it’s nothing special.  There are smaller than average sized baked goods that taste mediocre at best, gas station type ‘cappuccino’ machines (aka liquid candy bar dispensers), and pots upon pots of Tim Horton’s preground coffee ready to serve.  Right away the ‘coffee snob’ is alerted to what lies ahead when there is no espresso machine and a ‘cappuccino machine’.   When I get cup of their coffee, I’m immediately put off by being able to see the bottom of the cup through its liquid contents.  Timmy’s coffee is weak, lacking in desirable flavors, but packed with off-notes of wood and sweat sock.  Mmmm Good!

So why is Tim Horton’s so successful in Canada?  It certainly isn’t the coffee, baked goods, or sandwiches.  You can’t even buy their coffee whole bean; the STORE doesn’t receive the coffee as whole bean.  The only choice is preground!  So again, why is Timmy’s revered in

Canada?  The answer is simple; there is nicotine in the grounds. No, I’m not buying that one either.  Some losers try to say goofy statements like that, but the real answ er is simple: ‘Marketing’ and ‘Culture’.  Tim Horton’s coffee is woven into the culture of Canadian life.  To remove it would be equivalent to the Canadian government reducing taxes…ain’t gunna happen!   Seriously though, Tim Horton played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, started a coffee shop, and his legacy will live on even though the coffee tastes like day old truck stop java.

Entering our FREE coffee contest is easy!  This month it is being sponsored by Kohana Slow Roasted Coffee.  Check out their site, and also follow them on Twitter @KohanaCoffee Kohana offers great slow roasted coffees that are prepared in small batches to ensure quality and freshness!

USE CODE: CoffeeNateFan

Here’s how you can enter today!

• Leave a comment on any CoffeeNate.com post (1 entry per contributing comment)
• Become a fan of CoffeeNate.com on facebook
• Click the “Tweet” button at the top of any CoffeeNate.com post
• Follow me and ReTweet my tweets that contain contest info
• Sign up for our email updates at the top right of any page

At the end of February, I will draw a winner and they will be able to choose any coffee from Kohana Coffee’s website (does not include ultra premium %100 Kona coffee). Kohana will ship directly to you at absolutely no charge! Enjoy The contest is open to all North American residents, and Kohana ships to everywhere in North America!

If you enjoy what you see at CoffeeNate.com then please pay me back by visiting my sponsors! Every time a visitor from my site goes to a sponsor’s site, they know where the click came from. Show my sponsors that you appreciate their contribution to this site! Take care and good luck

Welcome to the first post of 2010 at CoffeeNate.com  After eating about 8 million calories worth of holiday food, it’s time to get back to reality.  This week I am addressing a very serious issue, as far as coffee quality is concerned anyway.  The coffee grinder.  Just how important is the way you grind you coffee?  It is the single most

important, and often overlooked, element in your daily coffee ritual!  Each method of brewing requires a specific degree of grinding depending on the amount of time the coffee is in contact with the water.  If you don’t grind precisely, then you will pay for it by getting a nasty, subpar cup of coffee!  For example, French Press brewing requires coarsely ground coffee, while espresso demands very fine coffee granules.  So, how do we properly grind coffee?   You have to purchase a home grinder.  You are now wondering which type of coffee grinder is the best.  There are two main types of home grinders…blade grinders, and burr grinders.   Blade grinders are what you will find for $10-15 at the local dept. store.  The problem with blade grinders is that they actually slice the beans, they do not grind them, and it is absolutely impossible to control the final product.  You will end up with some dust, and some chunks.  The dust will be over-extracted, while the chunks will be under extracted, both produce poor flavor.  Burr grinders on the other hand, will grind the coffee to your exact specifications.  There are ‘flat’ burr grinders, and ‘conical’ burr grinders.  What you want, is a conical burr grinder.  Although they are usually higher in price, they will out last and out perform the flat burr grinder.  I purchased my personal grinder for less than $100, and I’ve used it multiple times per day for 10 months now.  It still works as well as the day I bought it!

I got some great coffee this week from Cherry Hill Coffee, based in Kelowna British Columbia, Canada.  Okanagan Gold is the name of the blend that I received.  It is a blend of South American and Central American varieties of coffee, medium roasted to allow the unique flavor notes to permeate you the senses.  The aroma is that of brown sugar and milk chocolate, sweet and inviting.  This coffee is medium bodied and full of flavor.  With strong notes of chocolate covered cherry and delicate notes of brown sugar, this blend is a winner!  The finish is bright and pleasing, sparkling on the tongue as it is swallowed.  What I like about Cherry Hill Coffee is that they have a focus on organic and fair trade practices.  Organic farming methods produce better tasting coffee, while protecting the communities in which they are cultivated.  Many coffee farmers are not properly educated on the correct use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.  The result is contamination of water supplies and negative effects on the surrounding flora and fauna.

Unfortunately, Cherry Hill is only available in Canada, good news for my Canadian friends who have been unable to purchase some of the American roasted beans.  To purchase Cherry Hill Coffee, just visit Zcafe.ca and select the type you want to buy.  There is free shipping on orders of $50 or more.  Follow Cherry Hill on Twitter.

Be certain to enter the FREE coffee contest, sponsored by TheFineGrind.com You can check out their site, and also follow them on Twitter @TheFineGrind It’s easy to enter!

• Leave a comment on any CoffeeNate.com post (1 entry per contributing comment)
• Become a fan of CoffeeNate on facebook
• Click the “Tweet” button at the top of any CoffeeNate.com post
• Sign up for our email updates at the top of any page

On January 13th, I will draw a winner and they will be able to choose any coffee from The Fine Grind (does not include ultra premium coffees, Kona/Blue Mountain). The Fine Grind will ship directly to you at absolutely no charge! Enjoy One last thing, If you enjoy what you see at CoffeeNate.com then please pay me back by visiting my sponsors! Every time a visitor from my site goes to a sponsor’s site, they know where the click came from. Show my sponsors that you appreciate their contribution to this site!  Take care and good luck

Helloooo coffee friends!  This episode I will show you just how easy it is to make your own espresso at home.  Some people think that espresso is a special kind of bean, other say it’s a unique type of roasting, but the reality is that espresso is simply a brewing method.  The best way to brew coffee is to make espresso!  So, how can you make espresso at home that is better than from the cafe?  Want to make espresso based drinks like lattes and cappuccinos at home for less money than a cup of gas station coffee?  Then you

have come to the right place!   Espresso is created by using a finely ground coffee and extracting the flavors with 15 bars of pressure.  The pressure is what creates the espresso beverage, and perfectly extracts the best of the beans.  Buy why pay $6 per day on your favorite espresso drinks when you can buy an espresso machine and save tons of money?  The only reason would be fear of the unknown.  Until a few weeks ago, I didn’t make my own espresso either.  I bought a middle of the line machine (Breville 800ESXL) and gave it a whirl.  What I found is that I could really make espresso that tasted far better than the local cafes!  The cool part is that I can use whatever type of coffee I want, and I can save about $5.75 per drink…paying this toy off in less than 3 months!  Watch the video and ask a question if you have any.

Be certain to enter this month’s FREE coffee contest!  This one is sponsored by TheFineGrind.com You can check out their site, and also follow them on Twitter @TheFineGrind It’s easy to enter!

• Leave a comment on any CoffeeNate.com post (1 entry per contributing comment)
• Become a fan of CoffeeNate on facebook
• Click the “Tweet” button at the top of any CoffeeNate.com post
• Sign up for our email updates at the top of any page

In the first part of January, I will draw a winner and you will be able to choose which coffee you would like to try. The Fine Grind will ship it directly to you at absolutely no charge! Enjoy   One last thing, If you enjoy what you see at CoffeeNate.com then please pay me back by visiting my sponsors!  Every time a visitor from my site goes to a sponsor’s site, they know where the click came from.  Show my sponsors that you appreciate their contribution to this site!  Thank you and have a wonderful Christmas and New Years!

Welcome back to CoffeeNate.com for my holiday coffee gift ideas special!  With all of the hustle and bustle, wouldn’t you rather have the gifts automatically shipped to your door for cheaper than going out into the crowds?  I know that is what I prefer, and each year I do the vast majority of my shopping online.   To help you out, I’ve come up with a few recommendations for anyone on your list that likes, loves, or otherwise appreciates coffee on some level.  You should also know that I own and love all of the gifts that I am recommending!  These are also great ideas for that really difficult person to buy for, you know the one that already has everything and doesn’t spare themselves from anything.  These are somewhat unique gifts for the ordinary coffee drinker.  You can browse the gifts I’m talking about in the above widget, but I’ll list each one for you below.  I wanted to keep the prices low, while keeping the quality of the merchandise high.  Most items are below $50 and will bring a smile to their faces and a warmth to their bellies

Bodum Chambord 8-Cup Coffee Press

This is the French Press by which all others are measured!  A press pot brews a highly tasty cup of coffee when paired with great coffee.  It’s extremely easy to use and is capable of brewing enough coffee to share.  Simply put the grinds right into the pot, add hot water, let steep for 4 minutes and then push the plunger down.  Done!  You will find this same press in stores for more than $50, so purchasing here is much more cost effective.

AeroPress Coffee & Espresso Maker

The AeroPress looks like a syringe for horses, but it really is a coffee brewer.  It is a unique design that uses a combination of pressure extraction, as well as filtering.  It produces a very smooth and clean cup of coffee that is reported by some to be easier on the digestive system than some other brewing methods.  I have yet to meet someone who has tried the AeroPress that did not agree that it makes a super cup of coffee.  The AeroPress is likely not in your local store, but you can purchase it online for less than $30.

Planetary Design Commuter Double-Shot Stainless Steel French Press Mug

A travel mug and a french press coffee brewer all in one!  I use this baby at work (that’s why it wasn’t in the vid) and I love it.  I’m the only one that drinks coffee in my area and this is perfect for me.  The lid has a plunger attached to it, you simply scoop some coffee right into the mug, add hot water, put the lid on, and push the plunger down 4 minutes later.  Now you have a flavorful cup of coffee, and you don’t have to share   This particular model has a compartment in the bottom with a little cup that you can store another cup’s worth of coffee grinds in.  These mugs are available in many fun colors and will be sure to be a hit.

Bialetti Moka Express Stovetop Espresso Maker

This is a really cool brewer!  I covered this method in my “How to make great coffee while camping” episode.  This pot is steel, so it won’t get broken by your ten year old son… lol  Okay, I’m over it… really.  Anyway, the Moka pot makes you a really rich and flavor packed pot of coffee.  It is also known as a ’stovetop espresso maker’, but it isn’t espresso.  Authentic espresso is brewed at 15 atm of pressure and this pot cannot do it.  Although it’s not really espresso, it is one of my favorite brewing methods as it contacts the coffee at the ideal temperature…dummy proof!  I’ve seen these in stores for almost $100, but it is much cheaper at Amazon.

Breville BCG450XL Conical Burr Grinder

The coffee grinder may actually be more important in the brewing process than the brewer itself!  Every brewing method requires it’s own degree of grinding, meaning the grinds have to be a particular uniform size to properly extract the flavors of the coffee without leaving the coffee bland or bitter.   Press pots need coarsely ground coffee, while espresso machines require a very fine grind.  This precision cannot be achieved with a blade grinder…ever.  This particular grinder is a ‘conical’ burr grinder, which is the only type of grinder that can produce the precise amount of grinding you need.  I’ve owned this particular model for the last nine months, and I’ve used it multiple times per day and it still works like the day I bought it.  From espresso to press pot, it does the job like a champ, and for a fraction of the price of higher end models.

Bodum Santos Stovetop Glass Vacuum / Siphon Pot Coffee Maker

Here it is…my favorite!  I love this brewer, and everyone that comes over for a cup of coffee comments on the great tasting coffee that it creates, and that it looks like drug paraphernalia .  This coffee maker gets its name from the way the water shoots from the bottom chamber to the top, like a siphon, but then when it is removed from the heat source, the liquid is actually drawn into the bottom like a vacuum.  This way of making coffee is similar to the french press in that the coffee steeps in the water, but you can use a finer grind, which produces a fuller taste profile.  There is a nylon filter between the two chambers that simply removes the grinds, without removing any of the flavorful oils from your brew.  You’ll save a bundle buying this brewer here.

Breville 800ESXL Commercial 15-Bar Triple-Priming Die-Cast Espresso Machine

Okay, this is my new favorite toy!  As I’ve told you before, an espresso machine requires 15 atm of pressure to create a true espresso.  Those little steam driven machines just can’t do it.  I really like this machine and it makes tasty espresso every time.  You can spend anywhere from a couple of hundred to a few thousand dollars on an espresso machine.  This one is listed at $499, but you will find that it is much more affordable here.  Let’s put this in perspective for a minute.  If you have a one a day latté addiction, this machine will pay for itself in a few months, saving you money for years.  My next video is a tutorial on how to use this machine.

Coffee Gift Baskets From Green Mountain Coffee Roasters

You will find a nice assortment of great coffee, cocoa, and tea gift baskets at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.  I’ve tried a few of their coffees and I have yet to taste one that has disappointed.  They strive to purchase their coffee and teas direct from farmers who are Fair Trade certified, and practice organic and sustainable growing methods.  This produces better tasting coffee, and is much safer for the farmers themselves.

Brew A Better World Collection GMCR

I’ve also been a member of their Café Express program and I’ve found it to be an excellent way to get different coffees conveniently.  You sign up, get a free gift, and choose how often you want more coffee sent.  There is no obligation to join for a certain amount of time, and you can pick which coffees will be sent when.  They even send you a reminder to change your preferences before they ship it, so there’s no shady stuff going on there.  Not like those record or book clubs from back in the day that banked on you forgetting to cancel or not mailing that little card back.  No worries here, and you save $1 off every bag of coffee giving you even more incentive to sign up.  Try it for a month, try it for a year, or put it on hold, whatever you want to do it’s that flexible!

I’ve also found some great coffee related gift baskets at The Coffee Beanery!  They have a great selection of coffee that would be perfect for a lover of the bean!  Check out their site and you will also receive %15 off of your order when you use The Coffee Beanery coupon code of CB111!

That does it for my list of gifts for coffee lovers.  I hope that I’ve at least helped you to find the perfect gift, or perhaps YOU are the coffee lover and one of these items will now be on your list   Here’s another gift, leave a comment and you’ll receive an entry in the SpeakEasyCoffee’s free cofee contest ending in just a couple of days.  Don’t worry though, if you are from the future there is always a coffee contest going on here, so leave a comment on any post, become a facebook fan, click the ‘ReTweet’ button on any post, or sign up for the updates and you’ll get an entry for every time you do!  See you next week, have a good one!

One las thing I’d like to mention.  You may notice some links are blue in color and have a double underline.  These links are paid advertisements.  I have no idea about what sites they go to, so I’m not endorsing the businesses that they forward you to.  They may be awesome sites, I just don’t know.  Anyway, I get a few pennies every time that someone clicks one of these links and checks out the site they lead to. If you appreciate what I offer, then please take a moment and visit some of the sponsors of this site, be it the text links or the ones in the right column.  Thank you SOOOOOoooOo much for your support!

So it’s been a bit since my last video, and I’ve been really itching to get in front of the camera again, but life is so busy…and loud…and busy.  No more excuses, you will get the real me, uncut, uncensored, unedited…unless it’s really bad   Anyway, the past couple of weeks I’ve been drinking some really outstanding coffees from various roasters and I’m going to share them with you.  I wish I could take the time to devote a show to each one, but it wouldn’t be fair to make you wait so long   Watch for my Cyber Monday Coffee Christmas show!  I’ll have some gift ideas, and maybe a drink recipe too.

Kohana Coffee

I received some samples of Kohana coffee recently and although it was just enough for a single pot, I instantly fell in love with their %100 Hawaiian Select ($20.65) dark roasted coffee.  The flavor was full, rich, and very tasty.  If you love dark roasted coffee without the common burnt taste, then I suggest you try some of this yummy coffee.

BaristaOnDutY

I also got some unique coffees from BaristaOnDutY who I met through Twitter.  He roasts all of his coffees pan style in small micro batches.  I was impressed with the even degree of roasting despite being pan roasted.  The light roasts are perfect for tasting the varietal flavors that are unique to the region.  He’s much better than I am, as I found that there were differences in some of my pan roasted batches.  The Yirgacheffe offers a pleasing citrus/ lemon zest tone, while the Harrar is more of a blueberry sweetness with a milk chocolate finish.  The coffees sell for $10/6oz.

The Fine Grind

Anita at The Fine Grind, located in Kettering Ohio, suggested two of her personal favorite coffees. The “India Mysore: Gold Nuggets” ($16.95/lb) is a delightful cup.  It was a medium roast and reminded me of an Autumn day, with the scent of the colorful deciduous leaves in the Fall air.  The flavor isn’t overpowering, but it does offer notes of chocolate, pumpkin pie, and a subtle earthiness.  This is a very smooth cup of coffee.  I also have some of their Tanzanian Peaberry.  This coffee is darker roasted, with a luxuriant gleam of oil prevalent on the outside of the beans, but not too dark that all of the flavor is cooked out of it.  I like this coffee best as espresso.  It offers a slightly smoky sweetness that compliments the brewing method, and with a bit of steamed milk, makes a nice drink.  The Fine Grind offers a massive assortment of blends and single origin coffees to choose from, and they also allow you to select the degree of roasting when you order.

While I truly enjoyed all of these coffees, I would’ve liked to see more of a relationship with the growers.  Kohana reports that they have a relationship with their Hawaiian growers.  None of these were Fair Trade certified, which is not the end all and be all, but it does show a commitment to sustainability through better growing practices, and better business conditions for the communities.

You have a chance to win some really great coffee from my friends at SpeakEasyCoffee. Speak Easy is based in southern Ontario in Canada. Their coffee is amazing! You can check out the site, and also follow them on Twitter @SpeakEasyCoffee It is easy to enter!

• Leave a comment on any CoffeeNate.com post (1 entry per contributing comment)
• Become a fan of CoffeeNate on facebook
• Click the “Tweet” button at the top of any CoffeeNate.com post
• Sign up for our email updates at the top of any page

I will draw a winner and you will be able to choose which coffee you would like to try. Speak Easy will ship it directly to you at absolutely no charge! Enjoy

Well, it’s that time again.  Time for me to go undercover and investigate what I consider outrageous claims made by Starbucks® concerning their new instant coffee, VIA™.  They released the line of instant coffees, which are being promoted as being AS GOOD as regular brewed coffee.  They claim that their instant coffee is different because it contains ‘micro-ground’ coffee.  Um, ground coffee does not dissolve in water, no matter how ‘micro’ it may be.  Fine ground coffee, allowed to steep in water will always, always, always be bitter and offer many off notes in the flavor.   Pardon my laughter, but the assertion that I won’t be able to tell the difference is ridiculous.  Perhaps they felt the need to make such an off based claim due to the large price tag, or maybe there are enough of their customers who will blindly believe whatever they say.   The VIA™ costs more than $1/8oz serving, more than brewing your own Jamaican Blue Mountain at home.  If you visit their website, it says that they bet that you cannot tell the difference between the instant and the regular brewed coffee…I took that ‘challenge’!

I apologize for the crappy camera work, but remember…this was a top secret, hidden camera assignment!  I got the barista to prepare the Colombian version of  VIA™ and also a cup of brewed Pikes Place Roast brewed coffee.  The moment I wiffed the two beverages I ‘instantly’ knew which was which.  The cilantro/jalapeno/cat urine scent of the instant was overpowering and actually had the same effect as snorting horse radish.  The Pike’s Place was mellow and smooth.  The results of the tasting was very similar, with the instant having a long and pronounced bitter flavor that lingered on my tongue like the Novocaine you get from the dentist.  Conversely, the brewed cup had a sweet mellow flavor, and it was very clean.  I tried to enter this whole deal with an open mind, but c’mon…really, is this is a joke?!  Instant coffee claiming to be as good as brewed coffee?  Umm, ok?  I have also tried cappuccino at the gas station…guess what…it doesn’t taste like real cappuccino!  The bottom line is that instant coffee, of any kind, can never duplicate the taste of actual properly brewed coffee.  Now VIA™ is much better than any other INSTANT coffee flavored beverage I have ever tried, but it is still instant ‘kawphee’.  Case closed!

If you are looking for ways to make great coffee in a pinch, just check out my post on making great coffee while camping.  In addition to using these techniques while camping, you can easily use these methods whenever your resources are limited to hot water!  You don’t have to sacrifice great taste for convenience.

Surprise, you have a chance to win some really great coffee from my friends at SpeakEasyCoffee.  Speak Easy is based in southern Ontario in Canada.  The site is very simple, but the coffee is amazing!  You can check out their site, and also follow them on Twitter @SpeakEasyCoffee It’s easy to enter!

• Leave a comment on any CoffeeNate.com post (1 entry per contributing comment)
• Become a fan of CoffeeNate on facebook
• Click the “Tweet” button at the top of any CoffeeNate.com post
• Sign up for our email updates at the top of any page

At the end of November, I will draw a winner and you will be able to choose which coffee you would like to try.  Speak Easy will ship it directly to you at absolutely no charge!  Enjoy